Water-heating system and regulator therefor.



G E 11111011111150011511 l WATER HEATING SYSTEM AND REGULATOR THEREFOR.

APPLIGATION FILED APRA?, 1908.

Patented Aug.31,19o9. f

Wurz W60@ noma, D. c.

y cun'ris r.. mcimnocxnn, or mntn'rowit, Nrw vonk. l WATER-HEATING 'SYSTEM Ann lrineumrroa 'irmilzri'rroiav "Specicationof Letters Patent. y Patented Allg. 31, 1909.

Application ined Apri-i s, 190s. serial N. 425,806.

To all whom 'alt may concern:

Be it. known that I, CURT'IS E. KNICKER- nomma, a citizen of the United States, and

- resident of Middletown, in the county of ing to Water-Floating Systems and Regaupper end of the expansion tank soas to connect with an4 over-flowy tank or sewer Orange and State of New York, have made a certain new and useful -lnvention Relat lators Therefor, of wiich the followingis a specification, taken 111 connection with the accompanying drawingswlncl-i form a part of the saine.' i

This invention relates to water-heating systems and regulators therefor and relates especially to waterheatmg systems which may be operated as open systems vand which by the automatic action of the regulators employed are transformed into closed systems for the development ofgreater radiation.

In the accompanying drawngs' showing an illustrative` embodiment of this invention in a somewhat diagrammatic manner, and

in which the saine-reference numeral refers l-isa vertical section showing fthe heating system. Fig.' 2 is a vertical sect-ion of the .regulator with the parts in their normal p01 sition. Fig. 3 is a similail view with the control valve closed aswhen the system is operating' as 'a closed system. Fig. l is a. top view thereof; and Fig. is a horizontal sectional view along the liile 5 5 of Fig. 2.

1n ,the illustrative embodiment of this invention shown in the drawings, the waterheating furnace -l may be connected by the feed pipe 3 with suitable radiators, such .as 4, on the several floors 5 of the building 6 which may also be provided with separate return connections leadinglto, the return pipe 2 to carry the Water back to the furnace. The feed pipe may be connected with a suitable expansion tank 8, as is usual, the overiow pipe 10 connecting, if desired, with the discharge, as well-as having,- if desired, a branch extending up to the top of the building to furnish additional atmospheric' connection. The. regulator 7 may be'used in heating medium to a safe amount.

expansion tank where special reliability 'is desirable.

The regulator automatically converts the open system into' a closed system as'tlie furnace 1s tired more vigorously, the regulator 60 preferably having a compensating discharge passage governed by a suitable control valve which is normally heldin openposition with the proper yielding action, so that under normal conditions the system is open and the feed pipe has connnu'meatmn with the atmosphere through the c'onstricted compensating passage. When, however, the system is more vigorously operated to develop greater radiation, the temperature of the circulating medium increases and the fluid expands and tends to flow through the coli-4 stricted compensating passage with suflicient velocity to force the control valve against its seat and thus close the compensating passage, transformingthe system into a closed4 system. The system may operate in this manner with the heating luid at such high temperature that the radiation can be very materially increased above the radiation obtainable from the heating fluid in the open system, i't being usually desirable to have a suitable safety or relief 7alve to limit the temperature and resulting pressure of the The regulator may comprise a suitable casing 11 provided with a 'threaded lower flange 3() and within which the relief valve 12 may be mounted, so as to coperate with a suitably inclined seat 17 of conical or other 90 desired form, the relief valve having, if desired, a suitable body provided at its lower end with the annular guide 20 throughwhich suitable relief ports Q8 may be formed to communicate with the annular relief passage 95 19. If desired, the valve may be more accurately guided by a stem 13 formed on the valveand having a reduced upper end passing through a suitable guide 3,2 in theI cap or upperf flange 1,5 providedwith thelle threaded portion 29 secured in the up er end ofthe easing. The relief valve is o coursel normally pressed against its seatby a spring 14 having the desired strength, the spring being so proportionedlasto allow the relief Itri4 valve to liftwhen the heating iuid has reached the desired maximum pressure in the vheatingsvstem on which the valve may rise into the dotted'position indicated in Fig. 3,'

allowing the heating fluid to escape through .110

the discharge holes 16' and discharge oi overflow pipe to the desired extent so as to vprevent the-developineiit ofany excessive pressure in the. system.

The compensating passage and control valve may, if desired. be formed in connection with the relief valve, although, of course, this is not necessaryin all cases. In the illustrative form of the `invention as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the control valve 22 may coperate with a suitable seat 23 formed in the lower end of the relief valve, thecontrol valve being guided if desired by having a suitable body extending Within a cylindrical cavity inthe relief valvey and being provided at its upper end with a suitable guide ange 26ste accurately guide the control valve in its movements,

the open position of the control' valve being determined by proper ineaiis,.such as a suitable shoulder 31 in the casing witlrvvhicli the valve copera'tes as indicated. In this position a ,constricted compensating dis charge passage is' forinedaround the valve by the channels 24,'the constricted compensating port 21, the annular 'passage Q5 and the radial apertures QT so that the -fiuid may A ultimately escape through fthe aperture. 18

inthe relief valve. This passage. is of course sutiici'ent to allow such gradual movements 'of the heating liquid as voccur during the normal operation of an open system, the con trol Valve being normally held in open positionWith the desired force by-any suitable means such as Aby the weight of the valve which may, of course, be adjusted so as to exert the desired opening force. The expansion and consequent pressure developed on the cont-rol valve when the circulating fluid is heated to temperatures approximating the boiling point serve' to close the control valve and. hold it tightly upon its scat soA that thesystem continues to operate as a closed system as long as the furnace is enen getically tired; lVhen the need of special `radiation ceases /aiid the system is operated more moderately, the temperature and volume'of the heating fluid decrease, the control valve automatically returning to normal .position as shown in Fig. 9, and the system thereupon operating as an open system.

t Having described this invention in connection with illustrative cnibodiincntsI there of, to the details of which disclosure the invention is not, of course, to be limited, what isfclainied as new and what is desired Ato be: secured by Letters Patent is setforth in the appended claims.

`1. The water-heating system comprising a furnace, radiators, feed and return pipes 'said 4expansion tank controllin connected with said furnace and with said radiators, an expansion tank in communication with said feed pipe and the atmosphere and a regulator between said feed pipe and said expansion tank and a regulator beyond the atmospheric communication with said tank, said regulators comprising a casinghaving an inclined seat, a relief valve having a conical portion cooperating with said'seat and having a guide and stem coperating with said casing to guide said relief valve, a spring normally holding said relief valve in closed position and permitting its opening on the development of excessive pressure in said system. a control valve having a conical portion coperating with an inclined seat formed on the lower portion of said relief valve, said control valve having a body located within a cavity in said relief valve and guide flan e cooperating with said cavity tol guide Said control`valve in its movements, a shoulder- 'trol valve being automatically closed on the energetic operation of said system to convert said system into a closed system for operation at increased temperature and pressure of the heating medium.

The water heating system comprlsing la furnace, radiating means, feed and return pipes connected with said furnace and with said radiating means, an expansion tank in communication with said feed pipe and the atmosphere and'a, regulator beyond said expansion tank controlling the atmospheric communication with said tank, said regulator comprising a casing having a seat, a relief valve coperating with said scat, a sprintr normally holding Vsaid valve in closed position anda -control valve normally in open position to provide a constricted compeiisat ing assage through said regulator to permit the s vstem to normally operate as an open s vstcm, said control valve`being auto-y matically'closed on the energetic operation of said system to convert said system into a closed system for operation at increased temperature and pressure .of the heating medium.

CURTIS E. KNICKERBOCKER.

- YVitnesscs:

HARRY L. DUNCAN,

.Tessin B. KAY. 

